trichotillomania questions - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

americanwon1 · 01-29-2007, 02:23 PM

Hello all,

I am 21 and have had trichotillomania since I was 12. OCD and anxiety run in my family but I'm the only with this added bonus. I have no eye lashes left. When they start to grow in, I am met with the ungodly urge to pull them out. It's an anxious, obsessive feeling I can barely fight.

I recently realized that my urge to pull is strongest whenever I sit down to read. As a college student this is pretty difficult to deal with - I procrastinate my work a lot and can barely get anything done because often when I go to read I am just overwhelmed by anxiety and the urge to pull. Of course after I do I feel even worse.

I've read that taking medications for ADD are the absolute worse thing for trichotillomania. However I have been taking ritalin for a few weeks now and can actually focus on my work without being distracted by the urge. I am jumping from antidepressants trying to find the right one. I am starting Prozac to help deal with the anxiety.

But I am wondering if anyone else particularly feels the urge to pull at certain times, during certain activities, and if ADD medication has helped you focus on what you want to do instead of the compulsion to pull.

I know this isn't strictly OCD - but there's no trich board here. I'm interested to hear about your situations.

steveo23 · 01-29-2007, 03:32 PM

Hey

Sorry to hear about your problems with Trich. Many of us here would be able to understand your condition more than most, as we are also met with those ungody urges to perform all sorts of compulsive behaviours. I would say it's only natural to see an increase in compulsive behaviour (whatever the particular condition) during certain activites, especially when concentrating, under stress, tired, etc... AND at certain times of day, which may be down to relaxation levels or physiology.

I don't have Trich myself, but thought I'd reply. As it goes, I don't think the experts, scientists, doctors etc know as much as they pretend to know when it comes to the millions of chemicals in the brain and the effects various types of medication have on certain problems. As with OCD, I guess it depends on works best for you. Some people with OCD take medications which are not commonly used for their disorder but still benefit greatly; things like ritalin, adderall, even some anti-psychotics. If ritalin works for you that's great, just be wary of the potential downsides. Stay in the know through your doctor's advice.

Have you ever recieved cognitive behavioural therapy? It's can be very effective for a whole host of problems, including Trich. It's usually the best option.

Steve

Psychobabble · 01-29-2007, 07:06 PM

Hi Americanwon1,

I also have trich. combined with general OCD. I have been pulling my hair out since I was about 8 years old (I am 25 now)....it goes through 'phases' where sometimes I rarely do any pulling to times where I pull about 90% of the time during my waking hours. I pull the hair out at my temples. I have a bald spot (which is fortunately covered by the rest of my hair) about the size of a dime on my right temple. Also, any 'side-burn' hair I used to have is now gone.

I tend to pull pretty much anytime I am engaged in some school related activity (such as reading as in your case). I also pull when I am nervous about something. Finally, I pull while doing things such as watching t.v.

I do not feel an ungodly urge to pull, but since I do it pretty much all the time, I just must be used to that 'urge' (or else I'd be able to stop!..haha). I don't experience anxiety when I am pulling. However, I do experience anxiety when I'm about to go get a haircut or something like that. I hate having to explain to the hairdresser that I have this habit and that they should be careful not to cut the hair in such a way that my bald spot shows or that it is clear I have no sideburns. It is tough to have to explain this embarrassing issue to new hairdressers so I get pretty attached to the ones that are good at their job and who I've been going to for a while. I drive 1 hour and 45 minutes to my hometown just to get a haircut sometimes! Basically, I experience anxiety over thinking about the implications of the habit, not the habit itself.

The thing that makes it tough for me to work on stopping this habit is the fact that I sometimes enjoy it. For instance, I enjoy the smoothness of the bald spots I create. I also enjoy the feeling of actually pulling my hair out and seeing the hairs collect on my shirt or whatever (although, it can also be scary to see how much I pull out at a time). I'm not sure if you experience any wierd sense of pleasure over your trich. I have read, however, that it is certainly not uncommon among people who have trich.

Finally, I do not take medications for ADD so I cannot say anything about that. I am on Zoloft for the anxiety associated with my OCD. However, this doesn't do anything for the trich. I know that in order to stop pulling out my hair I would need to create a behavioral therapy program of sorts. However, I'm simply not ready to let go of the habit. Furthermore, I am currently doing CBT for my OCD which takes a lot of energy...so I'm concentrating on that first.

I hope that this post helps in the sense that there are others out there who understand what you're going through! My only 'advice' would be to perhaps look into CBT for your OCD and the behavioral therapies that are out there that help with trich. I have read that many CBT treatments for OCD can help with trich (as they are related disorders). Medication will only take you so far with this stuff. Good luck!

akres · 05-31-2007, 12:43 AM

my daughter and I suffer from trich, I tend to pull at bedtime, my daughter the same...

Nyxie63 · 05-31-2007, 05:21 AM

I also started pulling out my hair when I was 12, I'm 43 now. It's not nearly as bad as it used to be. When I first started, I'd concentrated on a spot at the top of my head and eventually ended up with an obvious bald spot there. These days, I focuse more on the little whispy hairs around my hairline, eyebrows and eyelashes, although not to nearly the degree as it used to. I actually have eyebrows now, which is really saying something! I've had other OCD rituals, but don't want to go into them here. Oddly enough, I'm more ashamed of them than of the trich.

When I was in my teens, I stumbled upon a do-it-yourself form of CBT. Sorting beads gave me the same kind of satisfaction as the trich. That then became my new obsession. I'd take a large jar of seed beads, sort them by color and size, and then mix them all up again. Lather, rinse, repeat. I've also found similar satisfaction in peeling wallpaper or paint. I've never stopped picking completely, but it seems to help cut down on the self-damage.

I seem to pick more when I'm anxious, watching tv, and sometimes even driving (although that could be the anxiety). The only time there's a real urge to pick is when I'm very anxious, otherwise it's usually a mindless activity. Never been on meds for anxiety, but drs have tried me on stuff for depression before. The side effects were worse than the original problem so I stopped taking the meds.

Have you considered maybe having something in your hand to "play" with while you read? This could be a string of beads, a keychain, a pretty rock, something to occupy your picking hand. I've found this is helpful, as I only pick with my right hand.

Please keep us posted.